Tweet

BLACKSBURG, Va. – The Virginia Tech men’s golf team will aim to start a new streak of NCAA appearances with the 2016-17 schedule announced today by head coach Jay Hardwick. This season’s slate will feature two new events that will enhance the competition.

“Once again, our tournament schedule will feature some of the top events in collegiate golf,” Hardwick said. “As in the past, this schedule will present our team with numerous challenges against some of the top competition in collegiate golf. Our philosophy is to compete against the nation’s best and this schedule certainly meets that goal.”

The Hokies open the season at the Joe Feaganes Marshall Invitational on Sept. 12-13 at the Guyan Golf and Country Club in Huntington, West Virginia. Tech returns to the event for the first time since 2012, when the Hokies won the title by 17 strokes.

Tech then returns to the VCU Shootout on the Tuckahoe Creek Course of the Country Club of Virginia on Sept. 19-20. Tech has won three of the last four VCU Shootouts. Next, Tech returns to the Primland Invitational at the Primland Resort in Meadows of Dan, Virginia on Sept. 26-27. This event has quickly established itself as one of the top fields in the country.

On Oct. 14-16, the Hokies return to the Bank of Tennessee Intercollegiate at the Blackthorn Club. The Hokies finished fourth, while rising senior Joey Lane also finished fourth in last year’s event. Tech closes out the fall at the UNCG Bridgestone Invitational on Oct. 30-31 at the Grandover Resort in Greensboro, North Carolina. Lane finished eighth in last year’s event.

As in past seasons, the Hokies will open spring competition at the Puerto Rico Classic in San Juan on Feb. 19-21. This tournament annually attracts perhaps the top field in all of collegiate golf.

Next on the schedule is the General Hackler Championship, to be played on March 11-12 at the Dunes Golf and Beach Club in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The spring break tournament annually draws a strong field. The Hokies will return to South Carolina March 24-26, to once again compete in the Furman Intercollegiate, a long-time staple of the Tech schedule. Lane tied for eighth in last year’s event.

The 3M/Augusta State Invitational on April 1-2 will see Tech face another outstanding field. The regular season will end with the second of the new events, the Wolfpack Spring Open on April 14-15. The event, hosted by Atlantic Coast Conference foe NC State, is played at the Lonnie Poole Golf Course, one of the top on-campus courses in the nation.

The post-season will begin on April 21-23, as Tech will compete in the 64^th Annual ACC Golf Championship at the Old North State Golf Club in New London, North Carolina. Lane led all Hokies with a seventh place finish in last year’s event.

The Hokies will be looking to begin a new streak of NCAA Regional appearances in 2017. This year’s sites are the University Club in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, hosted by LSU, The Grove in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, hosted by the Middle Tennessee State University, the Kampen Course Course in West Lafayette, Indiana, hosted by Purdue University, Stanford Golf Course in Palo Alto, California, hosted by Stanford University, UT Golf Club in Austin, Texas, hosted by the University of Texas and Washington National Golf Club in Auburn, Washington, hosted by the University of Washington. This year’s NCAA Men’s Golf Championship will be held at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, Illinois, hosted by Northern Illinois University.

“Competing in the ACC, one of the toughest leagues in the country, requires the team to compete at the highest level every week. Each tournament is a true test and will prepare us for the post season,” Hardwick concluded.

The Hokies welcome the arrival of a group of talented golfers this season to join the team of experienced returning players, led by Lane, the 2016 Virginia State Amateur champion. Three freshmen, plus sophomore transfer Mark Lawrence Jr., bolster the Tech squad entering the fall. Lawrence was runner-up at the Virginia State Open after finishing in a three-way tie for first place and won low amateur honors.

For updates on Virginia Tech men's golf, follow the Hokies on Twitter Follow @VT_MGolf